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40 “They even sent messengers for men who came from far away, and when they arrived you bathed yourself for them, applied eye makeup and put on your jewelry.41 You sat on an elegant couch, with a table spread before it on which you had placed the incense and olive oil that belonged to me.

42 “The noise of a carefree crowd was around her; drunkards were brought from the desert along with men from the rabble, and they put bracelets on the wrists of the woman and her sister and beautiful crowns on their heads.43 Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is.’44 And they slept with her. As men sleep with a prostitute, so they slept with those lewd women, Oholah and Oholibah.45 But righteous judges will sentence them to the punishment of women who commit adultery and shed blood, because they are adulterous and blood is on their hands.

46 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Bring a mob against them and give them over to terror and plunder.47 The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.

48 “So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you.49 You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”

Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot

24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.3 Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Put on the cooking pot; put it onand pour water into it.4 Put into it the pieces of meat,all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.Fill it with the best of these bones;5 take the pick of the flock.Pile wood beneath it for the bones;bring it to a boiland cook the bones in it.

6 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed,to the pot now encrusted,whose deposit will not go away!Take the meat out piece by piecein whatever order it comes.

7 “‘For the blood she shed is in her midst:She poured it on the bare rock;she did not pour it on the ground,where the dust would cover it.8 To stir up wrath and take revengeI put her blood on the bare rock,so that it would not be covered.

9 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!I, too, will pile the wood high.10 So heap on the woodand kindle the fire.Cook the meat well,mixing in the spices;and let the bones be charred.11 Then set the empty pot on the coalstill it becomes hot and its copper glows,so that its impurities may be meltedand its deposit burned away.12 It has frustrated all efforts;its heavy deposit has not been removed,not even by fire.

13 “‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.

14 “‘I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15 The word of the Lord came to me:16 “Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.17 Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.”

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.

19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us? Why are you acting like this?”

20 So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me:21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary—the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.23 You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.24 Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

25 “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, and their sons and daughters as well—26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news.27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”

A Prophecy Against Ammon

25 The word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them.3 Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said “Aha!” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,4 therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East as a possession. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.5 I will turn Rabbah into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the Lord.6 For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,7 therefore I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the Lord.’”

A Prophecy Against Moab

8 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,”9 therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its frontier towns—Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon and Kiriathaim—the glory of that land.10 I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, so that the Ammonites will not be remembered among the nations;11 and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”

A Prophecy Against Edom

12 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Edom took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so,13 therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom and kill both man and beast. I will lay it waste, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword.14 I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

A Prophecy Against Philistia

15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah,16 therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will wipe out the Kerethites and destroy those remaining along the coast.17 I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I take vengeance on them.’”

A Prophecy Against Tyre

26 In the eleventh month of the twelfth[b] year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’3 therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves.4 They will destroy the walls of Tyre and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock.5 Out in the sea she will become a place to spread fishnets, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. She will become plunder for the nations,6 and her settlements on the mainland will be ravaged by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

7 “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar[c] king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army.8 He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp up to your walls and raise his shields against you.9 He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons.10 His horses will be so many that they will cover you with dust. Your walls will tremble at the noise of the warhorses, wagons and chariots when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been broken through.11 The hooves of his horses will trample all your streets; he will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillars will fall to the ground.12 They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea.13 I will put an end to your noisy songs, and the music of your harps will be heard no more.14 I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt, for I the Lord have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.

15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Tyre: Will not the coastlands tremble at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan and the slaughter takes place in you?16 Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled at you.17 Then they will take up a lament concerning you and say to you:

“‘How you are destroyed, city of renown,peopled by men of the sea!You were a power on the seas,you and your citizens;you put your terroron all who lived there.18 Now the coastlands trembleon the day of your fall;the islands in the seaare terrified at your collapse.’

19 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths over you and its vast waters cover you,20 then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place[d] in the land of the living.21 I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

A Lament Over Tyre

27 The word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre.3 Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘You say, Tyre,“I am perfect in beauty.”4 Your domain was on the high seas;your builders brought your beauty to perfection.5 They made all your timbersof juniper from Senir[e];they took a cedar from Lebanonto make a mast for you.6 Of oaks from Bashanthey made your oars;of cypress wood[f] from the coasts of Cyprusthey made your deck, adorned with ivory.7 Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sailand served as your banner;your awnings were of blue and purplefrom the coasts of Elishah.8 Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen;your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.9 Veteran craftsmen of Byblos were on boardas shipwrights to caulk your seams.All the ships of the sea and their sailorscame alongside to trade for your wares.

10 “‘Men of Persia, Lydia and Putserved as soldiers in your army.They hung their shields and helmets on your walls,bringing you splendor.11 Men of Arvad and Helekguarded your walls on every side;men of Gammadwere in your towers.They hung their shields around your walls;they brought your beauty to perfection.

12 “‘Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

13 “‘Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you; they traded human beings and articles of bronze for your wares.

15 “‘The men of Rhodes[g] traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.

16 “‘Aram[h] did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.

17 “‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections,[i] honey, olive oil and balm for your wares.

18 “‘Damascus did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods. They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar19 and casks of wine from Izal in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia and calamus.

20 “‘Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.

21 “‘Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

22 “‘The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.

23 “‘Harran, Kanneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Ashur and Kilmad traded with you.24 In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.

25 “‘The ships of Tarshish serveas carriers for your wares.You are filled with heavy cargoas you sail the sea.26 Your oarsmen take youout to the high seas.But the east wind will break you to piecesfar out at sea.27 Your wealth, merchandise and wares,your mariners, sailors and shipwrights,your merchants and all your soldiers,and everyone else on boardwill sink into the heart of the seaon the day of your shipwreck.28 The shorelands will quakewhen your sailors cry out.29 All who handle the oarswill abandon their ships;the mariners and all the sailorswill stand on the shore.30 They will raise their voiceand cry bitterly over you;they will sprinkle dust on their headsand roll in ashes.31 They will shave their heads because of youand will put on sackcloth.They will weep over you with anguish of souland with bitter mourning.32 As they wail and mourn over you,they will take up a lament concerning you:“Who was ever silenced like Tyre,surrounded by the sea?”33 When your merchandise went out on the seas,you satisfied many nations;with your great wealth and your waresyou enriched the kings of the earth.34 Now you are shattered by the seain the depths of the waters;your wares and all your companyhave gone down with you.35 All who live in the coastlandsare appalled at you;their kings shudder with horrorand their faces are distorted with fear.36 The merchants among the nations scoff at you;you have come to a horrible endand will be no more.’”

A Prophecy Against the King of Tyre

28 The word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘In the pride of your heartyou say, “I am a god;I sit on the throne of a godin the heart of the seas.”But you are a mere mortal and not a god,though you think you are as wise as a god.3 Are you wiser than Daniel[j]?Is no secret hidden from you?4 By your wisdom and understandingyou have gained wealth for yourselfand amassed gold and silverin your treasuries.5 By your great skill in tradingyou have increased your wealth,and because of your wealthyour heart has grown proud.

6 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Because you think you are wise,as wise as a god,7 I am going to bring foreigners against you,the most ruthless of nations;they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdomand pierce your shining splendor.8 They will bring you down to the pit,and you will die a violent deathin the heart of the seas.9 Will you then say, “I am a god,”in the presence of those who kill you?You will be but a mortal, not a god,in the hands of those who slay you.10 You will die the death of the uncircumcisedat the hands of foreigners.

I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

11 The word of the Lord came to me:12 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘You were the seal of perfection,full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.13 You were in Eden,the garden of God;every precious stone adorned you:carnelian, chrysolite and emerald,topaz, onyx and jasper,lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl.[k]Your settings and mountings[l] were made of gold;on the day you were created they were prepared.14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub,for so I ordained you.You were on the holy mount of God;you walked among the fiery stones.15 You were blameless in your waysfrom the day you were createdtill wickedness was found in you.16 Through your widespread tradeyou were filled with violence,and you sinned.So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,and I expelled you, guardian cherub,from among the fiery stones.17 Your heart became proudon account of your beauty,and you corrupted your wisdombecause of your splendor.So I threw you to the earth;I made a spectacle of you before kings.18 By your many sins and dishonest tradeyou have desecrated your sanctuaries.So I made a fire come out from you,and it consumed you,and I reduced you to ashes on the groundin the sight of all who were watching.19 All the nations who knew youare appalled at you;you have come to a horrible endand will be no more.’”

A Prophecy Against Sidon

20 The word of the Lord came to me:21 “Son of man, set your face against Sidon; prophesy against her22 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘I am against you, Sidon,and among you I will display my glory.You will know that I am the Lord,when I inflict punishment on youand within you am proved to be holy.23 I will send a plague upon youand make blood flow in your streets.The slain will fall within you,with the sword against you on every side.Then you will know that I am the Lord.

24 “‘No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp thorns. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.

25 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob.26 They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’”

A Prophecy Against Egypt

Judgment on Pharaoh

29 In the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day, the word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.3 Speak to him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt,you great monster lying among your streams.You say, “The Nile belongs to me;I made it for myself.”4 But I will put hooks in your jawsand make the fish of your streams stick to your scales.I will pull you out from among your streams,with all the fish sticking to your scales.5 I will leave you in the desert,you and all the fish of your streams.You will fall on the open fieldand not be gathered or picked up.I will give you as foodto the beasts of the earth and the birds of the sky.

6 Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the Lord.

“‘You have been a staff of reed for the people of Israel.7 When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched.[m]

8 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will bring a sword against you and kill both man and beast.9 Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

“‘Because you said, “The Nile is mine; I made it,”10 therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush.[n]11 The foot of neither man nor beast will pass through it; no one will live there for forty years.12 I will make the land of Egypt desolate among devastated lands, and her cities will lie desolate forty years among ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.

13 “‘Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered.14 I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt, the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly kingdom.15 It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations. I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations.16 Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence for the people of Israel but will be a reminder of their sin in turning to her for help. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’”

Nebuchadnezzar’s Reward

17 In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me:18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre.19 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army.20 I have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign Lord.

21 “On that day I will make a horn[o] grow for the Israelites, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

A Lament Over Egypt

30 The word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Wail and say,“Alas for that day!”3 For the day is near,the day of the Lord is near—a day of clouds,a time of doom for the nations.4 A sword will come against Egypt,and anguish will come upon Cush.[p]When the slain fall in Egypt,her wealth will be carried awayand her foundations torn down.

5 Cush and Libya, Lydia and all Arabia, Kub and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.

6 “‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘The allies of Egypt will falland her proud strength will fail.From Migdol to Aswanthey will fall by the sword within her,declares the Sovereign Lord.7 “‘They will be desolateamong desolate lands,and their cities will lieamong ruined cities.8 Then they will know that I am the Lord,when I set fire to Egyptand all her helpers are crushed.

9 “‘On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of Egypt’s doom, for it is sure to come.

10 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘I will put an end to the hordes of Egyptby the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.11 He and his army—the most ruthless of nations—will be brought in to destroy the land.They will draw their swords against Egyptand fill the land with the slain.12 I will dry up the waters of the Nileand sell the land to an evil nation;by the hand of foreignersI will lay waste the land and everything in it.

I the Lord have spoken.

13 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘I will destroy the idolsand put an end to the images in Memphis.No longer will there be a prince in Egypt,and I will spread fear throughout the land.14 I will lay waste Upper Egypt,set fire to Zoanand inflict punishment on Thebes.15 I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium,the stronghold of Egypt,and wipe out the hordes of Thebes.16 I will set fire to Egypt;Pelusium will writhe in agony.Thebes will be taken by storm;Memphis will be in constant distress.17 The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastiswill fall by the sword,and the cities themselves will go into captivity.18 Dark will be the day at Tahpanheswhen I break the yoke of Egypt;there her proud strength will come to an end.She will be covered with clouds,and her villages will go into captivity.19 So I will inflict punishment on Egypt,and they will know that I am the Lord.’”

Pharaoh’s Arms Are Broken

20 In the eleventh year, in the first month on the seventh day, the word of the Lord came to me:21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. It has not been bound up to be healed or put in a splint so that it may become strong enough to hold a sword.22 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand.23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a mortally wounded man.25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt.26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Pharaoh as a Felled Cedar of Lebanon

31 In the eleventh year, in the third month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:

“‘Who can be compared with you in majesty?3 Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon,with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;it towered on high,its top above the thick foliage.4 The waters nourished it,deep springs made it grow tall;their streams flowedall around its baseand sent their channelsto all the trees of the field.5 So it towered higherthan all the trees of the field;its boughs increasedand its branches grew long,spreading because of abundant waters.6 All the birds of the skynested in its boughs,all the animals of the wildgave birth under its branches;all the great nationslived in its shade.7 It was majestic in beauty,with its spreading boughs,for its roots went downto abundant waters.8 The cedars in the garden of Godcould not rival it,nor could the junipersequal its boughs,nor could the plane treescompare with its branches—no tree in the garden of Godcould match its beauty.9 I made it beautifulwith abundant branches,the envy of all the trees of Edenin the garden of God.

10 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud of its height,11 I gave it into the hands of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness. I cast it aside,12 and the most ruthless of foreign nations cut it down and left it. Its boughs fell on the mountains and in all the valleys; its branches lay broken in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth came out from under its shade and left it.13 All the birds settled on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived among its branches.14 Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined for death, for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.

15 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day it was brought down to the realm of the dead I covered the deep springs with mourning for it; I held back its streams, and its abundant waters were restrained. Because of it I clothed Lebanon with gloom, and all the trees of the field withered away.16 I made the nations tremble at the sound of its fall when I brought it down to the realm of the dead to be with those who go down to the pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below.17 They too, like the great cedar, had gone down to the realm of the dead, to those killed by the sword, along with the armed men who lived in its shade among the nations.

18 “‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.

“‘This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

A Lament Over Pharaoh

32 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:

“‘You are like a lion among the nations;you are like a monster in the seasthrashing about in your streams,churning the water with your feetand muddying the streams.

3 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘With a great throng of peopleI will cast my net over you,and they will haul you up in my net.4 I will throw you on the landand hurl you on the open field.I will let all the birds of the sky settle on youand all the animals of the wild gorge themselves on you.5 I will spread your flesh on the mountainsand fill the valleys with your remains.6 I will drench the land with your flowing bloodall the way to the mountains,and the ravines will be filled with your flesh.7 When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavensand darken their stars;I will cover the sun with a cloud,and the moon will not give its light.8 All the shining lights in the heavensI will darken over you;I will bring darkness over your land,declares the Sovereign Lord.9 I will trouble the hearts of many peopleswhen I bring about your destruction among the nations,among[q] lands you have not known.10 I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you,and their kings will shudder with horror because of youwhen I brandish my sword before them.On the day of your downfalleach of them will trembleevery moment for his life.

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘The sword of the king of Babylonwill come against you.12 I will cause your hordes to fallby the swords of mighty men—the most ruthless of all nations.They will shatter the pride of Egypt,and all her hordes will be overthrown.13 I will destroy all her cattlefrom beside abundant watersno longer to be stirred by the foot of manor muddied by the hooves of cattle.14 Then I will let her waters settleand make her streams flow like oil,declares the Sovereign Lord.15 When I make Egypt desolateand strip the land of everything in it,when I strike down all who live there,then they will know that I am the Lord.’

16 “This is the lament they will chant for her. The daughters of the nations will chant it; for Egypt and all her hordes they will chant it, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Egypt’s Descent Into the Realm of the Dead

17 In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:18 “Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and consign to the earth below both her and the daughters of mighty nations, along with those who go down to the pit.19 Say to them, ‘Are you more favored than others? Go down and be laid among the uncircumcised.’20 They will fall among those killed by the sword. The sword is drawn; let her be dragged off with all her hordes.21 From within the realm of the dead the mighty leaders will say of Egypt and her allies, ‘They have come down and they lie with the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.’

22 “Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword.23 Their graves are in the depths of the pit and her army lies around her grave. All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword.

24 “Elam is there, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword. All who had spread terror in the land of the living went down uncircumcised to the earth below. They bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.25 A bed is made for her among the slain, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword. Because their terror had spread in the land of the living, they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are laid among the slain.

26 “Meshek and Tubal are there, with all their hordes around their graves. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword because they spread their terror in the land of the living.27 But they do not lie with the fallen warriors of old,[r] who went down to the realm of the dead with their weapons of war—their swords placed under their heads and their shields[s] resting on their bones—though these warriors also had terrorized the land of the living.

28 “You too, Pharaoh, will be broken and will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.

29 “Edom is there, her kings and all her princes; despite their power, they are laid with those killed by the sword. They lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.

30 “All the princes of the north and all the Sidonians are there; they went down with the slain in disgrace despite the terror caused by their power. They lie uncircumcised with those killed by the sword and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.

31 “Pharaoh—he and all his army—will see them and he will be consoled for all his hordes that were killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord.32 Although I had him spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Renewal of Ezekiel’s Call as Watchman

33 The word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people,4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.5 Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’

7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for[t] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.

10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of[u] them. How then can we live?”’11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’

12 “Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’13 If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done.14 And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right—15 if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die.16 None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.

17 “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just.18 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it.19 And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so.20 Yet you Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”

Jerusalem’s Fall Explained

21 In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month on the fifth day, a man who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has fallen!”22 Now the evening before the man arrived, the hand of the Lord was on me, and he opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer silent.

23 Then the word of the Lord came to me:24 “Son of man, the people living in those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as our possession.’25 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you eat meat with the blood still in it and look to your idols and shed blood, should you then possess the land?26 You rely on your sword, you do detestable things, and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. Should you then possess the land?’

27 “Say this to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, those who are left in the ruins will fall by the sword, those out in the country I will give to the wild animals to be devoured, and those in strongholds and caves will die of a plague.28 I will make the land a desolate waste, and her proud strength will come to an end, and the mountains of Israel will become desolate so that no one will cross them.29 Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land a desolate waste because of all the detestable things they have done.’

30 “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

33 “When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

The Lord Will Be Israel’s Shepherd

34 The word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

7 “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:10 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord.16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

17 “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away,22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.24 I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken.

25 “‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety.26 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing.[v] I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.27 The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.28 They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid.29 I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations.30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord.31 You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

A Prophecy Against Edom

35 The word of the Lord came to me:2 “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir; prophesy against it3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you and make you a desolate waste.4 I will turn your towns into ruins and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

5 “‘Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax,6 therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.7 I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and cut off from it all who come and go.8 I will fill your mountains with the slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines.9 I will make you desolate forever; your towns will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

10 “‘Because you have said, “These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession of them,” even though I the Lord was there,11 therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.12 Then you will know that I the Lord have heard all the contemptible things you have said against the mountains of Israel. You said, “They have been laid waste and have been given over to us to devour.”13 You boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it.14 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.15 Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”